International Mountain Society
Encyclopedia
The International Mountain Society is a scientific mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...

 society, with a focus on the ecosustainment of mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...

s. Based in Bern, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

, the goal of the society (known as the IMS in short) "is to advance knowledge and disseminate information about mountain research and mountain development throughout the world". Memerships are given both to individuals and to organizations; members include the University of Central Asia
University of Central Asia
The University of Central Asia was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan...

, World Wildlife Fund, and the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...

 branch of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...

. Focus is placed on mountain ecoregions in developing countries. Funding is derieved from author fees for publication in its journal, Mountain Research and Development, and from donations from its members and participators.

The society was initially gathered togethor by a gathering of peers concerned with overdevelopment on mountains in 1980, however the organization had its roots as far back as 1973, in several workshops on the issue and in the meeting of the German Foundation for International Development in December 1974. Following much discussion, the society was finalized and founded in 1980. It is organized at the top level with a president, past president, two vice presidents, one secretary, one treasurer, and twelve trustees. After four years of membership scientists become eligible for the positions.
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